As a princess, a painter, and a portraitist, Mihri Müşfik Hanım wore many hats in her lifetime.
Hanım established herself as the first contemporary Turkish female artist, and was known mostly for her portraiture. Born in Istanbul in the Anchabadze dynasty to a royal family, Hanım took an early interest in literature, music, and painting. Her father was an anatomy specialist and a well-known instructor in the Military School of Medicine, and it’s believed that he had a strong influence on her artistic pursuits.
Hanım took private lessons in painting, and eventually moved to Rome and Paris, in hopes of immersing herself in art circles. In Paris, Hanım was introduced to Cevit Bey, the Ottoman Minister of Finance. Bey saw Hanım’s talent and sent a recommendation to the Minister of Education to have her appointed as an art teacher at the Istanbul Teachers’ Training School for Girls in 1913. A year later, Hanım was hired as the director and a fine arts instructor. Throughout her career, she also painted portraits of important figures such as Pope Benedict XV.
Today, we remember Hanım and her incredible contributions to art on what would be her 131st birthday.
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